[Avionics Today June 15, 2014] Hughes Network Systems signed a new contract with Thaicom Public Company Limited to jointly develop In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) solutions for airlines based in the Asia-Pacific region. Under the contract, Thaicom will provide its broadband satellite fleet to enable connected aircraft solutions.

The contract follows an agreement announced last fall between Thaicom and Global Eagle Entertainment to develop and support IFC for Asia-Pacific region carriers. Global Eagle's IFC system is currently featured on more than 550 in-service aircraft worldwide.

"Thaicom has expanded our IFC offering as a part of our mobility services, utilizing the latest satellite-based communications technologies that have extensively served sea-air-land connectivity targeting customers in Thailand and Southeast Asia," said Sakon Kittivatcharapong, senior vice president, ground system operations at Thaicom PLC.